Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Presbyterian College Women's Basketball team and Coach Alaura Sharp.

The Blue Hose, as they are known, made history after beating the third-seeded Radford Highlanders to claim the Big South Championship title for the first time ever.

Now, they are in the Big Dance. They play tonight, and I wish them the best of luck in their game tonight.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank him for doing this Special Order hour on energy.

Mr. Speaker, there is no national security without energy security. I didn't come up with that. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said that, and Americans know it.

Energy is foundation to everything in American life. Americans really take our energy for granted. They expect the lights to come on when they flip the switch, they expect their refrigerator to have a cold beverage in it, and they demand that they have affordable energy.

Whether it is power generation or transportation fuels, the gas and diesel fuel that they put in their cars to travel to work to earn the income that is taxed by this government or to take their kids to school or attend a ball game or go to their house of worship, they know now that they are paying more for their transportation fuels than they were before the Biden administration. They know now that they are paying higher utility rates than they were before the Biden administration.

So, Mr. Speaker, you have to ask yourself: Why?

It is because President Biden on day one declared war on energy. Actually, before day one, on the campaign trail, he was going to end fracking. He was going to target the fossil fuel industry, and he did.

On day one, they canceled the Keystone pipeline that would bring Canadian oil down to the refineries in the United States to be refined into all of the miraculous products that come out of a barrel of oil or hydrocarbons. It is not just gasoline and diesel fuel, but it is all sorts of miraculous products that help us have items like these glasses. These are things that help make our homes safer and things we utilize to make our lives better.

He ended the oil and gas leases on Federal land both offshore and onshore.

Just recently, because he was required by law to do so, they issued a 5-year drilling plan on Federal lands offshore on the OCS. In that 5- year plan they issued a plan that will only have three lease cells, the fewest lease cells on the OCS, the Outer Continental Shelf, and the Gulf of Mexico in the history of the country.

There is no leasing off the coast of Alaska. They don't want us to go after the National Petroleum Reserve, the oil and gas that is in Alaska in a small sliver of property set aside for energy production to help Americans lower their energy costs.

Before Biden came into office, America was a net exporter of oil. We have so much natural gas in this country that it is immeasurable. That means we can't really tell you how much it is, Mr. Speaker, because it is so much. America could be, once again, a leader of exporting oil and natural gas.

Now, the Democrats are going to say that it was Putin's price hike. When gas prices went up it was because Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine. Yes, that caused some volatility in the world that affected gas prices, but gas prices and energy prices in general already were on the rise before Putin invaded Ukraine because of the Biden policies and their attack on American energy production.

There are four things we have to think about when we think about energy production and energy in this country, and that is production. Let's produce the resources that we have in oil and gas in the Marcellus shale formation, the Permian Basin, off the coast of Alaska, onshore in Alaska, other Federal lands, and in the Gulf of Mexico. Anywhere we can find those resources, let's produce those but then we have to deliver those resources, and that is where pipelines come in.

Pipelines deliver resources in the safest mode and manner, whether it is liquid fuel or gas, than any other mode of transportation of those resources. We can produce those resources and deliver those resources either to the refinery to be refined into the miraculous products that we have in oil and gasoline, but then utilize those resources to produce that electricity that we talked about 1 minute ago that Americans expect.

We don't have intermittent power here in this country. They do in South Africa, and they do in many places in Europe where at certain times during the day the power is not on. It goes off. They have a brownout and a blackout.

The Democrats' policies are doing away with reliable and dispatchable energy such as oil and gas and natural gas-fired generators. They are moving more toward renewables. I don't know a Republican on our side of the aisle who doesn't like renewable energy.

I like the fact we can harness the sun and harness the wind and create energy. I think it is groovy. Nonetheless, I also know that in South Carolina we have renewables. We have solar generation in South Carolina.

Guess what, Mr. Speaker?

It starts at zero every day, but when the sun comes up it starts generating power.

Guess what, Mr. Speaker?

When the sun goes down, then it goes back to zero. It starts at zero and ends at zero every day so that at least one-half of the day, solar isn't producing any energy, and the utilities need to provide that energy that we expect, so they need to have dispatchable energy, stuff that they can ramp up and down and draw on when it is needed. That is why natural gas-fired power plants are so important in this Nation as a supplemental to the renewables or renewable is supplemental to gas to save money.

Nonetheless, we need to produce more resources here in this country. We need to deliver those through pipelines. We have a tremendous need to build our pipeline infrastructure in this country to send those resources to where they can be utilized by the utilities or the refineries for the products that we need; produce, deliver, and utilize.

Be that as it may, then we have such an abundance of natural gas that we could help improve the quality of lives of folks all around the globe by exporting American-produced and cleaner burning natural gas to help folks in Africa finally have stable and reliable electric generation. There is energy poverty in this world, and we could help solve that by exporting cleaner burning, American-produced natural gas that burns cleaner than any other natural gas.

It definitely burns cleaner than Russian gas. When Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine, Europe looked West to the United States and said: Send us your gas. Send us your LNG so we can lessen our dependence on a foreign adversary, Russia.

Actually, Mr. Speaker, U.S. gas burns cleaner so you are helping your carbon emissions as well, if you approach it that way. However, because of the Biden policies, they couldn't count on the United States. We just saw a pause in LNG terminal permitting.

What did they do?

They looked to Norway, and Norway built a pipeline across the ocean to Poland in 1 year's time.

Mr. Speaker, imagine building a pipeline in this country in 1 year's time that length and that magnitude.

We need to export more LNG. We need to help our friends and allies around the globe, help American energy producers create American jobs, and help the climate because American gas has actually helped us lower our carbon emissions in this country. We can continue to do that through cleaner burning natural gas and something that is dispatchable that will always be there and always be on.

This is energy week, and we have approached a number of things. We just had a big markup on the Pipeline Safety, Modernization, and Expansion Act where we can actually start building out pipelines and improving pipelines that are in existing rights-of-way and providing that resource to the utilities that much need it.

In energy week, we just passed a no fracking bill so that future Presidents and this President can't ban fracking in this country because fracking has actually helped our energy revolution.

There is so much we can do, and I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, Republicans are focused on returning America to energy dominance to lower your prices at the pump, to lower your utility bills, and provide reliable, affordable, and cleaner energy in this country for moms, dads, and businesses so that America can be successful.

We do it starting with energy, because if we don't have low energy prices, then I promise you, Mr. Speaker, you are paying more at the grocery store and at other retailers because most goods around this country are transported by something that runs on diesel fuel.

Diesel fuel is a product of refining that fossil fuel we produce here. However, when diesel fuel goes up, that cost is passed on to the consumer. That is why we are paying higher prices. It is because the Biden administration has driven up energy prices in this country and limited our production in this country.

This has hurt us on the global stage because countries are going to get energy from somewhere, and they will get it from adversarial countries like China, Russia, Iran, or Venezuela when they can get energy from the United States.

We can be a global leader again. We will be, and I look forward to the day that America reasserts its dominance in the energy sector.

I appreciate the gentleman for yielding to me today, and we are going to continue to focus on American energy.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3277) to amend the Department of Energy Organization Act with respect to functions assigned to Assistant Secretaries, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3277, the Energy Emergency Leadership Act. Sponsored by Representatives Walberg and Blunt Rochester, H.R. 3277 has strong bipartisan support, passing out of the Energy and Commerce Committee 48-0 last May.

The bill is necessary to strengthen the Department of Energy's important energy emergency mission. It does so by requiring that the well-established energy emergency and cybersecurity functions at the DOE are organized under the leadership of an Assistant Secretary confirmed by the Senate.

This bill amends the Department of Energy Organization Act to establish in law this Assistant Secretary level of leadership at the Department of Energy's emergency response and cybersecurity functions.

This bill will ensure the Department has focused and accountable leadership to protect the public more fully from fuel and electricity supply disruptions against natural or manmade hazards, including emerging threats from our foreign adversaries to the Nation's electric grid.

Under this legislation, the DOE will carry out its responsibilities in coordination with other agencies with improved coordination across the Department, better interagency collaborations, and greater accountability to the United States Congress.

Establishing accountable leadership of this DOE mission is an important step in the face of increased threats, vulnerabilities, and interdependencies of energy infrastructure and end-use systems.

Protecting energy security requires defense in depth. This means a strong energy sector, strong State capabilities, and ensuring sector agencies like the Department of Energy have the tools that they need to respond to energy emergencies.

A vote for H.R. 3277 is a vote for ensuring accountable DOE leadership

over energy emergencies for the benefit of public safety and welfare and for stronger cybersecurity protections within the energy systems.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg), one of the authors of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Latta).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, it is an important time to address cybersecurity in this Nation. The energy infrastructure that we have is vulnerable. The gentleman from Michigan mentioned the Colonial Pipeline incident, which affected my State of South Carolina.

Republicans generally aren't about growing government, creating new positions, and whatever, but it is important to raise this to the level of Assistant Secretary to put the emphasis where the Nation needs it to be at the Department of Energy.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg) and the gentlewoman from Delaware (Ms. Blunt Rochester) for authoring this bill. I thank the minority on the Energy and Commerce Committee, as well as the majority members, for supporting this through the full committee, and I would love for all of my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6544) to advance the benefits of nuclear energy by enabling efficient, timely, and predictable licensing, regulation, and deployment of nuclear energy technologies, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on the bill.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 6544, the Atomic Energy Advancement Act. I first thank my colleague and friend, the ranking member of the Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee, for leading this effort with me, Congresswoman Diana DeGette.

Madam Speaker, this is a package of nuclear bills and is comprised of the

work of many members of the Committee on Energy and Commerce on both sides of the aisle. I thank them for their work in advancing the use of nuclear energy here in the United States.

The Atomic Energy Advancement Act will advance durable, bipartisan policy that will expand nuclear energy and its many benefits for the Nation, while maintaining the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's global gold standard for safety.

Our goal is to bring America's nuclear promise back into alignment with the goals that Congress established when passing the Atomic Energy Act. This ushered in the age of the peaceful use of the atom, demonstrating American leadership around the world and the amazing benefits of nuclear power.

The NRC Mission Alignment Act provision in this bill, which I authored, does just that. It directs the NRC to update its mission statement to include that its licensing and regulation of nuclear energy activities will be conducted in a manner that is efficient and does not unnecessarily limit the potential of nuclear energy.

The NRC should not be an impediment but rather a facilitator of nuclear advancement in America.

There are many provisions in this bill that modernize the NRC and advance nuclear technology deployment, including American technology exports. For example, the bill requires the NRC to provide efficient, timely, and predictable reviews; strengthens the NRC workforce to address the new technologies coming down the pike; reduces hourly fee rates for advanced nuclear reactor licenses; avoids duplicative environmental reviews; updates the DOE's nuclear expert reviews; and extends the critical liability protections necessary for nuclear investment.

Now more than ever, it is essential that America lead in nuclear energy, especially as our adversaries work actively to undercut our strength. Russia and China are seeking to dominate the nuclear markets and supply chains for these technologies. America can and must continue to set the global nuclear standard, and the Atomic Energy Advancement Act will ensure that we do.

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues on the Committee on Energy and Commerce, as well as all who have had input on this bipartisan legislation. I thank them for their work and dedication.

Madam Speaker, I urge support for this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

House of Representatives,

Committee on Foreign Affairs,

Washington, DC, February 6, 2024.

Hon. Cathy McMorris Rodgers,

Chair, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Washington, DC.

Dear Chair Rodgers: Thank you for consulting with the

Committee on Foreign Affairs on the text of H.R. 6544, the

Atomic Energy Advancement Act, and incorporating requested

edits. I agree that Foreign Affairs may be discharged from

further consideration of the bill, so that it may proceed

expeditiously to the House Floor.

This agreement is made with the understanding that it does

not in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of the

Committee on Foreign Affairs, or prejudice our jurisdictional

prerogatives on this measure or similar legislation in the

future.

I would appreciate it if you could include this letter in

your committee report on the bill, or place it into the

Record during Floor consideration. I look forward to

continuing to work together as this measure moves through the

legislative process.

Sincerely,

Michael T. McCaul,

Chairman.

Madam Speaker, Ranking Member Pallone and his staff have been very good to work with the majority staff on this bill, and I thank them for that.

Last year, when I was given the opportunity to chair the Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee, Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers and I had a lot of talk about nuclear energy. This is a culmination of a lot of that initial discussion.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. Rodgers), the chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Madam Speaker, I agree that with fusion SMR advanced nuclear technology, the nuclear renaissance is right before us.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Weber), my good friend.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joyce).

Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie), the chair of the Subcommittee on Health.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter), who will probably talk about what is going on at Plant Vogtle, the newest reactors to have been constructed in our lifetime.

Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 15 seconds to the gentleman from Georgia.

Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

As you have heard today, the Atomic Energy Advancement Act is really setting America up to get ready for what is next. What is next is advanced nuclear reactors and small modular reactors. As the gentlewoman from Massachusetts said, the possibility of fusion is very exciting.

There are the industries that could be set up around the nuclear hub of these advanced reactors, jobs that will be created, keeping that intellectual property here in America, and addressing our supply issues for critical components, enriched uranium, the fuel that is necessary to make these reactors work. Lessening the Nation's dependence on Russia and China for nuclear technology or nuclear fuel just makes sense to a lot of folks in America.

In order to get ready for that nuclear renaissance that I mentioned earlier, we have got to make sure that the government agencies, specifically the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, is truly prepared as they move into the 21st century in the advancement of nuclear energy in this country.

We have got friends and allies who are looking to the United States to export the technology to help their countries meet their energy independence needs, to be cleaner in their energy production, and lessen their dependence on foreign adversaries.

For example, we were in the Czech Republic last spring, and they commissioned both small modular reactors and traditional light-water reactors. They were looking to the United States. They were looking to the NRC. They were looking to America to lead and help them as they develop their nuclear technology and their nuclear energy development in their countries. Poland was the same way with light-water reactors, the future of SMRs.

I think about what is going on in this country with SMR development. I think about what our neighbors in Canada are doing up in Ontario with probably the first SMR that will be full-scale brought online. Nuclear development is important to the cleaner energy future for America.

Madam Speaker, I don't have other speakers on this side, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen), who represents Augusta, Georgia, where Plant Vogtle is.

Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Georgia.

Madam Speaker, I am thankful, once again, for the bipartisan nature of this legislation. I thank Ranking Member DeGette on the subcommittee and Ranking Member Pallone and their staff for all they have done. Let's get this passed. Let's work with our Senate colleagues. Let's get something to the President's desk and get something signed into law to move the Nation forward.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1009, I call up the bill (H.R. 7176) to repeal restrictions on the export and import of natural gas, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 7176.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7176, the Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2024. I am a proud cosponsor of this legislation, which my friend and colleague from Texas (Mr. Pfluger), has introduced.

Since day one, President Biden has issued executive orders and given direction to the Federal agencies across the government to shut down American energy production, even at the expense of jobs, economic development, national security, and the climate. President Biden's decision to ban LNG exports in an election year is putting politics over people.

Let's be clear. The Biden administration does not appear to be against all

oil and gas production--just American energy.

They begged OPEC to increase production, and they are turning a blind eye to Russia. Russia is exporting 40 percent more LNG to Europe today than it was before the invasion of Ukraine. Russia's energy exports are funding its war against Ukraine, padding the pockets of Vladimir Putin.

The reality is that global demand for natural gas is expected to increase 46 percent by 2050, and our European and Asian allies who want to do business with the United States of America now have to look to Qatar or to Russia or even to Iran to meet their growing energy needs.

LNG exports strengthen America's energy security, create jobs, and decrease energy prices here at home through American production.

U.S. LNG exports could support up to 452,000 additional American jobs and add up to $73 billion in the U.S. economy by 2040.

This bill will help deliver affordable, reliable, and cleaner burning American energy to Americans, create jobs, and strengthen our global leadership.

Let's vote to unlock our domestic LNG potential.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, the third time is the charm. Let's get it done.

House Republicans on the Energy and Commerce Committee have focused on four main components: produce, deliver, utilize, and export.

Produce the abundant resources we have in this country.

Deliver those resources through pipelines, the need for pipeline permitting reform and buildout infrastructure.

Utilize resources to provide reliable, affordable, and clean energy for Americans.

Export to help our friends and allies around the globe to lower their carbon emissions and meet their energy needs, especially in Europe where they faced the invasion from Vladimir Putin into Ukraine.

They had a reality check on energy. They looked west to the United States to export more. We can do it, and we need to do it through LNG exports.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. Rodgers), the chairwoman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to gentleman from Texas (Mr. Pfluger), the author of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie), who chairs the Health Subcommittee on Energy and Commerce.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Bucshon).

Mr. Speaker, thank goodness for the policies of the last administration. This administration seems to be touting that it has increased production. That came about because of policies of the Trump administration, when, on day one, the Biden administration shut down oil and gas leases, stopped American energy production, shut down pipeline projects, and thwarted the American energy sector.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg).

Mr. Speaker, the fear-mongering from the Democrats is ludicrous. Spot prices for natural gas in December 2023 were only 53 cents higher than they were in 2016. We can export American natural gas, produce more natural gas in this country, and help Americans and help our allies and friends around the world with their energy security, with their quality of life, and with their standard of living.

Dr. Joyce from Pennsylvania knows it well because he represents the Marcellus shale.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joyce).

Mr. Speaker, Vladimir Putin is selling 40 percent more natural gas to Europe now than he did before the Ukraine war. By not selling Europe American LNG, the administration is putting money in Vladimir Putin's pockets for him to fund the war.

Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Texas knows about energy.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Weber).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter), who is the new chair of the Energy and Commerce Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise). We are glad the majority leader of the House is back in Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I love to hear the Democrats talk about increased production and the levels of

production now. These projects don't happen overnight. They started during the Trump administration with their policies.

Go back to the Obama administration, where oil and gas production increased on State and private land, not Federal land, because the Obama administration was against that. Then, President Trump opened up more Federal land.

However, on day one, President Biden signed executive orders to stop oil and gas leasing on Federal land. He shut down the Keystone pipeline.

My Democratic colleagues have thwarted energy projects over and over. This is another attempt to stop LNG export, and it hurts our friends and allies across the globe.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Balderson).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Cammack).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence).

Mr. Speaker, after we lifted the crude oil export ban, Americans know what they were paying at the pump before the Biden administration. They were paying lower gas prices. They are paying much higher gas prices, commodity prices. Everything has gone up due to the Biden inflation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman), who understands natural resources. He chairs the Natural Resources Committee.

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, the United States of America is blessed with abundant natural resources. Unfortunately, we are cursed with liberal politicians who don't want American companies and American investors and entrepreneurs to go after the resources to help Americans.

When we had a spike in energy prices during the Biden administration, President Biden didn't fly to Midland, Texas; he didn't fly to North Dakota; he didn't fly to Louisiana and beg those producers to produce more. Where did he fly? He flew to Saudi Arabia to beg the OPEC cartel to produce more so that we could import it--political stunt there--to help lower prices for Americans versus using American resources and American companies and American jobs.

This indefinite pause on LNG exports is misguided, but Americans need to know this wasn't an executive order that had no input from the public. It wasn't a piece of legislation that passed. He did it by a press release, directing an agency to pause LNG exports.

Let's talk about Ukraine today. We have heard a lot of that. Vladimir Putin and his energy oligarchs are exporting to Europe 40 percent more than they did before the war in Ukraine. That is more money flowing right into the pocket of Vladimir Putin to fund his war effort in Ukraine.

I would rather that money flow into the pockets of American energy producers and tax bases and to communities all around this country that produce energy by exporting more to help our friends and allies. America has never used the spigot of energy exported to influence policy in any country, but Vladimir Putin has turned the spigot on and off many times to influence policy in Europe.

Let's pass this legislation. Let's continue to export cleaner burning, American-produced natural gas. Let's produce more, deliver more, utilize more, and export more to help our friends and allies around the world improve their quality of life and improve their energy security.

Mr. Speaker, this is right for America. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the community and military service of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Vaughan, who celebrated his 100th birthday on December 10, 2023.

Lt. Col. Vaughan began his collegiate career in 1941 at Clemson College, which is now known as Clemson University, before leaving school to serve in WWII as a Combat Engineer in the U.S. Army. After his discharge in 1948, Lt. Col. Vaughan returned to Clemson University and completed a degree in Agricultural Engineering. Next, Lt. Col. Vaughan earned a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force Reserve.

In January 1953, Vaughan married Evelyn Lancaster Vaughan, who passed away earlier this year. He then left to defend our country in the Korean War. He would later retire from the U.S. Air Force Reserve after 28 years of faithful service and begin a new career with the South Carolina Soil Conservation Service--where he worked for 28 years before retiring in 1983.

Lt. Col. Vaughan is a loving father to three children, with seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Mr. Speaker, Charles Vaughan's life is one of devotion to his country and local community. General Douglas MacArthur once said, ``No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.'' After 100 years of life, Lt. Col. Vaughan continues to embody the vigilance that Gen. MacArthur described. I hope he will continue to inspire those around him in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I get to say once again from the House floor, ``Go Tigers,'' as I rise to celebrate the 2023 NCAA men's soccer national champions, the Clemson Tigers.

On Monday night, the Clemson men's soccer team took to the pitch to beat Notre Dame and close out the season. This is Clemson's fourth national championship in soccer. They claimed victory in 1984, 1987, 2021, and 2023. With this victory, the soccer program has surpassed football with the most national championships. I am proud to say that Clemson is one of just seven schools with four or more men's soccer national championships.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Head Coach Mike Noonan and each of the players on the team for representing my alma mater and the State of South Carolina so well.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent the 2023 NCAA men's soccer national champions, and I congratulate President Clements on the success of this team and the program there at Clemson.

Merry Christmas to all. May God bless America.

And once again, go Tigers.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today not just as a South Carolinian but also as co-chair of the Broadcasters Caucus to celebrate the 70th anniversary of WYFF News 4.

Known originally as WFBC, the station started broadcasting on December 31, 1953. The first anchor for the station was Norvin Duncan who worked for WFBC radio before joining the newly created WFBC-TV.

Channel 4 was the first broadcaster in South Carolina to televise a live game, which was a basketball game between Furman and Newberry Colleges.

By the 1970s, technology had advanced, and WYFF's staff had to increase as well to ensure accurate, timely news for upstate South Carolina, Georgia, and western North Carolina.

WYFF was also the first station in South Carolina to have an African- American anchor when Deborah Lee began anchoring ``The Scene at 6.''

For 70 years, WYFF news has kept the upstate informed on innumerable local events, heartwarming stories, storms, and national emergencies.

WYFF has even lost staff members in the field who were just working to keep citizens informed as storms raged. I remember specifically Mike McCormick and Aaron Smeltzer who passed away in 2018.

I thank Carol, Nigel, Jane, and the rest of the WYFF team for continuing

the station's legacy. I look forward to the next 70 years of WYFF keeping the upstate informed and safe with local, live, and breaking news.

Mr. Chairman, I speak in opposition to this amendment because it puts American security at risk. Plutonium pits, a key component of nuclear warhead production, have not been regularly produced in the United States since 1989.

We are forced to refurbish our existing stockpile of warheads to keep up with the demand. We can only do that for so long because the components degrade. Russia and China are ramping up their capacity to produce new nuclear weapon components. We need to show our adversaries we are capable of maintaining a strong and modernized nuclear deterrent.

In fact, Speaker Johnson yesterday reiterated, ``Peace through strength.'' We have a statutory obligation to manufacture at least 80 plutonium pits annually by the year 2030 just to maintain our national defense goals.

H Canyon at Savannah River Site is a critical component. It is the last of its kind in the Nation to help the disassembly and assembly process. This amendment is misguided.

Mr. Chairman, I would invite the gentleman from California to actually come down to South Carolina and visit the Savannah River Site because I have been told you haven't. You are talking about something you don't even really know about just because you want to cut funding away and you don't like nuclear weapons.

The plutonium pit project at Savannah River Site in South Carolina will be responsible for producing over half of the minimum annual requirement. We must continue to support Savannah River Site to maintain a dominant nuclear force in the world, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act.

Electric vehicles will be part of our energy matrix for a long time, our transportation matrix. No Republicans deny that, but government is trying to pick what you drive, America.

Our electric grid does not support electric vehicles now. Power generation isn't there, and the infrastructure is far from ready across most of America.

Stripping away Americans' freedom to choose, government picking the type of car that you have to drive, that is like saying: I am from the government, and I am here to help. I know better than you do, America.

That is wrong. Americans ought to have the freedom to choose. If electric vehicles are going to be part of our mix in rural South Carolina, we have a long way to go to build out that infrastructure. I can tell you that Wyoming, Nebraska, Montana, and Washington State are a long way from ready.

Most of the pollution California talks about is not generated in California. It is coming from Asia. China is building all the infrastructure, all the solar panels, a lot of components for electric vehicles. They are using coal-fired power plants to produce those renewable components, creating pollution that ends up on the West Coast.

This is wrong for America. Government should not tell people in South Carolina or Washington State or anywhere else what kind of vehicle to drive.

Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to do so.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reflect on the life and military service of Colonel Bobby Dill, who passed away on August 14, 2023, at the age of 91.

Colonel Dill was a native of Greenville County in South Carolina. He was a 1955 graduate of Clemson University and earned a master's degree from Oklahoma University. In the U.S. Army, he served in Korea, Vietnam, Germany and on Army Staff at the Pentagon.

After retiring from military service, he spent several years investing in the next generation by working as a substitute teacher. Later, he would leave retirement to take on a new career as a newspaperman--working diligently to keep his community informed. With his wife LaVerle at his side, he wrote articles, attended countless meetings, and remained devoted to printing the truth.

Mr. Speaker, Colonel Bob Dill's life was devoted to serving his country and his local community. Soloman tells us in the book of Proverbs that ``a good name is to be chosen rather than great riches.'' Colonel Bob Dill was a kind man who loved his country, and his memory will live on in the Third District of South Carolina.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the remarkable career of Lieutenant Commander Judith Robertson. Lieutenant Commander Robertson, a resident of Easley for nearly three decades, was the first female Physician Assistant in the United States Navy and a trailblazer in her field.

In 1974, Lieutenant Commander Judith Robertson entered the United States Navy and later graduated from the Sheppard Air Force Base's Physician Assistant Program with a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Nebraska. Ultimately, earned the title of the first female Physician Assistant, paving the way for countless women to follow in her footsteps. During her time in the U.S. Navy, she used her knowledge and training to provide OB/GYN services to Vietnam refugees at Talega Camp Pendleton, California. Her dedication and commitment to serving her country is evident in her 30-plus years of active service, during which she exemplified the highest standards of professionalism and excellence. For her service, she was awarded three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, two National Defense Service medals, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal.

Since she retired from active duty in 1998, Lieutenant Commander Robertson's passion for helping others has not waned. Since settling down in Easley, South Carolina, she has continued to contribute to her community as a volunteer at Easley Baptist Hospital, selflessly giving her time and expertise to assist those in need. Her humility and willingness to serve are attributes that make her an invaluable member of her community.

Mr. Speaker, Lieutenant Commander Judith Robertson's tireless dedication and unwavering commitment to service, in both the United States Navy and Easley Baptist Hospital, have left a lasting impact on my constituency. It is a privilege to celebrate the service of Lieutenant Commander Robertson and the barriers she has broken through her service in the United States Navy. This has made her an inspiration and role model for countless young women and service members. I am honored to represent the third district of South Carolina and to celebrate the exceptional individuals who make a difference in our community and country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Easley, South Carolina Police Officer, Matthew Hare, who was killed in the line of duty on August 2, 2023, while saving the life of an individual suffering from a mental health crisis. Officer Hare was driven by a desire to serve his community which led to his pursuing a career in law enforcement upon graduation from Easley High School. Officer Hare is survived by his mother, Ashley Hare, in addition to his brother, Easton Hare.

At only 22 years of age, Officer Hare had just begun his career in 2022 and showed great promise after completing the SC Criminal Justice Academy.

When not on duty, he loved to be with his family and friends at the dinner table, outside on their next adventure, or playing the latest video game. Despite many hobbies, Officer Hare always found time to cheer on his favorite football team, the Clemson Tigers.

On August 2, Officer Hare displayed the greatest form of love and act of service that can be asked of any police officer. He responded to a call for an individual who was suffering from a mental health crisis and was precariously on the train tracks in Easley. Knowing a train was coming and committed to saving this person he didn't know, Officer Hare sacrificed himself to save a member of the community he swore to serve and protect.

Mr. Speaker, South Carolina's Third District is known for its people and is home to countless heroes. I'm honored to recognize Officer Matthew Hare, a hero who was taken from us far too soon. Ashley and Easton will carry the fond memories of Officer Hare in their hearts forever, and Easley will remember this demonstration of selfless service. Officer Hare's final actions truly exemplify John 15:13, ``Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.'' Thank Officer Hare for choosing to serve and giving us a great example of how we ought to love others. The Easley community learned this lesson as is evident by the outpouring of support for him and his family since his passing. Today, my thoughts and prayers are with the Hare family and the Easley Police Department as they lay to rest Officer Hare.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and career of Lieutenant Michael Wood who served the Newberry, South Carolina community for over 20 years as an officer at the Newberry Police Department and passed away while in the line of duty on July 26, 2023. Lieutenant Wood, a resident of Prosperity, South Carolina, is survived by his wife, Jennifer, and two sons, Brandon and Alexander.

In 2003, Lieutenant Wood began serving the Newberry Police Department as an officer. In 2006, his dedication and commitment earned him a promotion to Corporal and subsequently Sergeant and Lieutenant.

While on duty on July 26, Lieutenant Wood responded to a call for service and was involved in a motor vehicle accident--succumbing to his injuries later. Newberry Police Chief Goodman praised Lieutenant Wood's service, work ethic, and creative community policing. For example, the ``walk-and-talk'' program was created by Lieutenant Wood to allow law enforcement and citizens to build a relationship founded on trust. Together, police officers and community members would walk the streets of Newberry while talking about life, sports, family or anything--just no talking about work. It was not about explaining law enforcement efforts, but rather helping to show communities that law enforcement officers are human and have the same passions, struggles, joys and dreams as their community.

Lieutenant Wood was a 1998 graduate of Newberry College where he also played football. Active in his community, he taught life lessons as both a baseball coach and Boy Scout leader, was a member of Wightman United Methodist Church and served on the Board of Directors for the Soil and Water Conservation District.

Mr. Speaker, it's an honor to recognize the life and selfless service of Lieutenant Michael Wood. I know Jennifer, Brandon and Alexander will remember him as a great husband and father, but Newberry will remember him as a friend, protector and inspiration. As the Apostle John said in the 15th chapter and 13th verse, ``Greater love hath no man than

this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.'' Lieutenant Wood answered the call to be a police officer and answered the call again on July 26, 2023. My thoughts and prayers are with the Wood family, the Newberry Police Department and the entire community who mourns this tragic loss of life.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to welcome today's guest chaplain, Reverend Dr. Tony Foster of Restoration Worship Center in Greenwood, South Carolina.

Dr. Foster, a personal friend of mine, has faithfully served in Christian ministry for more than 29 years. In that time, he has preached the gospel in the United States and around the world, ministering in the United Kingdom, Canada, India, and other countries.

Pastor Foster is cofounder and copastor of Restoration Worship Center, which began in 2003 with just 25 members and the goal of being a place for the community to worship God while growing in their faith.

He is partnered in ministry by his wife, Joanie, who is watching from the gallery today. Pastor Tony and Joanie also have two sons, James and Trey.

His ministry seeks to equip Christians to stand for righteousness in the nations of the world.

Outside of the pulpit, Pastor Tony lives out his faith and his commitment to helping troubled youth become all God wants them to be by serving on the South Carolina Juvenile Parole Board.

Dr. Foster also serves on the board of directors for the Charter Institute at Erskine, as well as president of Restoration Bible College. Most recently, he took another step to serve the community being sworn in as a magistrate judge in Greenwood County, South Carolina.

I am proud to have Pastor Tony Foster here as the guest chaplain of the people's House. I am grateful for his service to God and our country and especially the youth of South Carolina.

I pray that God continues to bless him and his family, the State of South Carolina, and the United States of America.